Richardson Hitchins Defeats Liam Paro, Targets Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney

Promoter Eddie Hearn has named Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez, and Devin Haney as newly crowned IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins (20-0, 7 KOs) looks to fight next following his win over undefeated champion Liam Paro (25 ) by a 12-round decision. -1, 15 KOs) last Saturday night at Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Paro fought in a Madrimov-esque style, using feints and upper body movements to try to fool Hitchin. This style worked well for the first four rounds, but after Hitchins nailed it, it became one-sided from the fifth on.

Calling the Stars

The chances of Ryan, Teofimo, and Haney agreeing to fight the Hitchins are slim to none. Those guys would NOT want to fight a talent like Hitchins and get knocked out the same way he did to Paro. That is not true.

Hitchins easily outclassed Paro, taking a close four-way battle and dominating the final eight laps. Hear said after the fight he saw it as an 8-4 or 7-5 win for Hitchins.

Scores

116-112: Hitchins
117-111: Paro
116-112: Hitchins

Unless the Honorable Turki Alalshikh gets involved in luring Haney, Teofimo, or Ryan to fight Hitchins, he’ll have to settle for defending his IBF 140-lb title on a smaller name in this division because those guys won’t agree. we fought with him.

Paro statistics vs. Hitchins Punch

– Richardson Hitchins: 15 out of 408 28% connection rate.
– Liam Paro: 113 of 490 for 23%

“Yes, why not? I don’t think you can base your career on Ryan Garcia yet, but it’s a big fight, he’s a big name, and he’s a great fighter,” Eddie Hearn told the media following Richardson Hitchins’ victory over Liam Paro last week. Saturday night.

“So, Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez, and Devin Haney,” Hearn continued about the fighters he would like to face Hitchins next. “There are 135 boys who will go up in the end. He talks about Liam possibly fighting [George] Kambosos. Why doesn’t Richardson fight Kambosos? They once ate beef. Jack Catterall. We have a lot of guys [at Matchroom that can fight Hitchins]. Subriel Matias, yes, for sure. “

Of the names Hearn mentioned above, former IBF champion Subriel Matias, the boogeyman in the 140-lb division, is the most likely to get Hitchins. He will not want to give up British boxer Jack Catterall because he is pushing him to challenge WBO champion Teofimo Lopez for his belt. Catteral will be the food of the Hitchins.

Strategic Warfare

“I think he was one of the trickiest guys I’ve ever fought. Jumping and European style” says Hitchins about Paro. “When I got in the ring, I was like, ‘Oh, s***. This is like being overseas again.’ I’m glad I got the ateur experience to see guys like that.

“So, I knew the things I had to do. I was like that [Israil] Madrimov and Terence Crawford for hitting and pitching. It was a lot of deception and a lot of underhand things he was doing there. So, I think he was one of the trickiest guys I’ve ever fought,” Hitchins said of Paro.

It appears that Paro has been studying the style of former WBA 154-lb champion Israel Madrimov and used that style in his fight with Hitchins. Paro would have had more success if he had used Gustavo Lemos’ all-out approach. Surprisingly, Paro did not follow the Lemos plan and instead tried to get Hitchins out. Using that method, he let go of any chance of winning.

Interestingly, Hearn didn’t seem overjoyed after the fight, indicating that he hoped Paro would win. Before the Paro-Hitchins fight last Saturday, Hearn mentioned that he might match Paro with Kambosos in a major tournament in Australia. That fight is no longer possible after last night.